Page 12 of Jina

No, more likely it was someone with a personal vendetta against her. Did that include any of the guys she ruthlessly put down on the mat at the gym? He hated to admit that these attacks against Jina were more likely to have stemmed from a more recent incident rather than something that had transpired years ago.

Thinking back, he hadn’t noticed any of the gym rats mouthing off about her. At least, not while he was around. He sent a quick text to Mike, briefly explaining the danger to Jina in case he was missing something.

Funny how he was driving himself crazy over a case that technically wasn’t his. Better for him to stay focused on the skeletal remains that had been unearthed on the former Wheeler farm. Having an ID for their vic was the first step. Hopefully, he’d hear from the ME’s office very soon. They had the fractured skull, and he had already asked for the jawbone and teeth to be compared with the missing Bradley Crow’s dental records.

Glancing at his watch, he decided it was well past time to hit the shower. As a peace offering, he’d stop for breakfast sandwiches and more coffee on the way to Jina’s. Despite knowing he shouldn’t be bringing her along to his interview of her sister, he was looking forward to seeing her again.

As soon as the thought formed, he winced. Not good. Was he out of his mind? He’d lost his wife, Renee, three years ago and had no intention of going down that path again. So why was he suddenly interested in Jina? She might be pretty, but she was pricklier than a cactus.

Besides, beauty was only skin deep.

Yet there was no denying he was intrigued by the beauty queen who could hold her own against a bunch of gym rats.

Enough. He wasn’t interested in Jina aside from getting information from her early years of living in Peabody. He’d grown up in Milwaukee, but Renee had lived in Peabody, so he’d transferred to the smaller and admittedly safer Peabody Police Department in part to make his wife happy. But now that he was working a cold case, he felt at a disadvantage. He hadn’t lived in Peabody twelve years ago. Any input Jina and Shelly could provide, especially regarding the people who’d lived in the area back then, would be great.

The two sisters might be close, but they lived their own lives. Despite Jina’s insistence to the contrary, he was banking on the possibility that Shelly would recognize Bradley Crow.

He dressed in what he considered his detective uniform—dress slacks, short-sleeved shirt, and a sport coat. The worst part about having a gold shield was dressing up. Give him the starchy police uniform any day.

After clipping his badge on his belt and sliding his .38 into the holster, he headed for the door. He’d sold the house he’d shared with Renee and bought this smaller place. At the time, he’d thought that moving would help him deal with the memories of their time together, but it hadn’t.

Renee had remained in his heart. It was only within the past ten months or so that he’d realized she hadn’t occupied his thoughts as much as she used to.

Giving himself a mental shake, he drove to the fast-food restaurant closest to Jina’s duplex for their breakfast. Then he navigated the six blocks to reach her driveway.

Seeing the house in daylight, he noted the property was well maintained. He slid out from behind the wheel, leaving the food and coffee in the car. He headed to the side entrance, only to stop abruptly as Jina appeared. The same overnight bag from last night hung from her shoulder.

“Hey.” She didn’t smile, and from the weariness in her features, he guessed she hadn’t slept well. “I saw you pull up.”

“No worries.” He tried not to be suspicious of her unwillingness to allow him into her personal space. “I stopped for breakfast sandwiches and coffee.”

“You did?” Her blue eyes brightened as she smiled. “Thanks.”

Ridiculously pleased by her response, and somewhat rattled over how striking she was when she smiled, he stepped back so she could come down the sidewalk. In contrast to his being on duty, she was dressed casually in blue jeans and a yellow T-shirt beneath a denim jacket. She wore her long hair down rather than in the usual ponytail. She also had her weapon clipped to her belt, and he assumed she didn’t go anywhere without it.

He went around to open her passenger door. She arched a brow but didn’t point out that she was perfectly capable of opening her own door. She dropped the bag on the floor and slid inside.

“The coffee smells great.” She reached for the cup.

“Cream and sugar packets are in the door if you need them.” He gestured to the side pocket.

“Nope. I’m good.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he closed her door and headed to the driver’s seat. The pleasant interlude would only last until they reached Madison, as he assumed she would turn into a mamma bear protecting her cub once he started to interview Shelly.

He shifted into gear and backed out of the driveway. “Who owns the building?”

“Mr. Glen. He’s a sweetheart.” She sipped her coffee, then set it aside. “What’s for breakfast?”

Before he could answer, his phone rang. He hesitated, then answered the call from Mike Pulaski. “Hey, Mike. I’m here with Jina.”

“Really?” The gym owner sounded shocked. “I got your text and just wanted to assure you that I have not heard anyone mouthing off about Jina. But that may be because I made it clear for the guys to keep their thoughts to themselves. That if they didn’t like getting their butt kicked by a woman, they should join another gym.”

Jina turned to look at him with annoyance, then spoke. “Thanks, Mike, but to be clear, I never thought any of the guys at the gym would be angry enough to shoot me.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I don’t think so either,” Mike said earnestly. “But I’m happy to help. Just let me know what you need.”

“I will,” Cole said. “Thanks again.” He ended the call, prepared for Jina to snap at him. But when he glanced at her, she was frowning while rifling through the overnight bag. “What’s wrong?”

---